Question

It has been argued that in our capitalist and consumerist society we are alienated from love of others and God. We have become selfish individuals who are lonely. Do you agree with this position? Explain.

Answer 1

According to dictionary, society is a formal association of people with similar interests. This means being associated with people who have similarity in culture and economic interest. Usually, the society shares span of geographical area and subjected rules which are accepted by the society for its future survival and growth, this is what we call as rule of land.

Now, if this rule of land is further classified or typified according to interests of society members, then it splits whole society into some bunch of groups with similar interests. This is something is federation within the federation. Example: Consider whole nation as one society, where all nationals share similar interests with regard to land and prosperity. We can observe some groups in the society like merchant organizations, artisans group, agriculturists, etc. These internal groups have members of similar interests or objectives forming a society inside another society.

We can also observe some groups which are economically or politically strong may influence whole society. When this happens, the whole society is actually controlled by influential group. Example: Group of merchants with similar interest formed society within the society and got strong influence over whole large society, this forms capitalist or consumerist society.

We can also observe that each and every individual member of society has their own interests or motives with regard to their own survival, prosperity, status, etc. Example: Some people might be interested to serve whole society without much expectation and live for a cause but some people are interested only in their gains from the society. Here, as the objective and motives change, the behavior and interests also change from individual to individual. We can say there is some influence of capitalist outlook on people and their motives, resulting in selfish behaviors or thoughts.

Selfish behavior actually occurs due to fear of scarcity of resource. People may feel they will lose their status or quality of life due to scarcity of resource (Malthusian Theory of population) and prefer to keep their resource for rainy days rather than sharing with needy. Charity requires people to have mindset of mutual help and love for each other, this is very less in the capitalist or consumerist scenario. Example: People spend the money to only enhance their well being rather than charity like purchasing cosmetics, investing on real estate, buying more sophisticated gadgets to show how they are better. Charity is act of giving the needy and helping them in survival, but people in consumerist society interested in showing their own wellness and saving their wealth as much as possible.

Hence, it can be agreed that capitalist and consumerist society have very less or no interest in charity, serving the needy, or love to others, resulting in alienation or causing separate group in society.